On Wednesday, the NHL Department of Player Safety tagged Backes with a three-game suspension for his hit on Detroit’s Frans Nielsen during Tuesday’s 6-5 overtime win. Nielsen did not return after the hit.

Backes, who was penalized for roughing, will forfeit $96,774.18 in pay.

According to the NHL, Backes delivered a late and high hit and made substantial contact to the Red Wing’s head.

Nielsen, who had collected a rim around the wall, had chipped the puck into the middle of the Detroit zone, where it was intercepted by David Pastrnak. Nielsen was not eligible to be checked legally on the play because he had gotten rid of the puck.

“In addition to the lateness of the check, what elevates this hit to merit supplemental discipline is the significant head contact that occurs and the force with which it is delivered,” Damian Echevarrieta, NHL vice president of player safety and hockey operations, said on the video explaining the suspension.

“While we acknowledge Backes’s attempt to contort his body in a way that might minimize the force of the hit, what results is a hit with substantial and forceful contact to Nielsen’s head.”